And the biggest cheese ball is...

Well, most accurate guesser of number of cheese balls, is MAVEN!

The actual number of balls in the barrel was 960 (as determined by serving size, and, no, they were not Utz brand).

Congrats to Maven for his guess of 700 cheese balls and his first Encyclopedia Branigan win. Treasure this moment.

Second place goes to amelia for her scientific estimate of 600 balls...

...third place is awarded to das boot for a guess of 427 balls...

...and last but not least, honorable mention goes to LJ who guessed 327 balls.

I would like to also recognize paulzak2 for his guess of 1,120 balls, which was the closest guess to the actual number of balls (unfortunately, due to complaints on previous contests the "go over and lose" rule was implemented).

Thank you all for your participation and keep an eye out for the next opportunity to win free stuff!

Cheese balls were originally made out of livestock feed (and free stuff)

Cheese balls, cheese curls and other cheese puff snack foods were invented at a factory that made flaked food for livestock. No, I'm not talking about party cheese balls or MTV True Life "where are my cheeseballssssss?", I'm talking about old fashioned processed snack food cheese balls (you know, round, bright orange, puffs of "cheese" -- You've seen them in the supermarket, next to the industrial sized barrels of "party mix").

One day, around 1930 or so, Edward Wilson, a flake machine operator at the Flakall Company noticed that when the flaked food was mixed with water and heated it created a puffy curl of corn. He took the puffs and added oil and flavorings -- thus creating the first cheese puff. Now there are many kinds of processed puffed corn cheese snacks, and it is estimated that 82% of Americans with families have consumed some kind of cheese puff.

Come back!

Planter's Cheez Balls were so popular that a petition was formed when they were taken off the market to bring them back (sign it here, I dare you).

Ever wanted your own barrel of cheese balls but just couldn't make the commitment to eat the the...um... how many balls are in one of those things? That's where I need some help (giving away free stuff). Check out the below photo...

Click and image will enlarge

if you can guess how may cheese balls are in the barrel (estimate based on nutrition label - the barrel will remain sealed) you win...

...drum roll please...

... the barrel of cheese puffs! Yes. Really. No lie.

A few rules:

• Post your guess in the comments section below
• Include your e-mail address (anti-robot style)
• Closest price wins, go over and you loose
• All entries must be in by 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, April 6 - winner will be posted the following Tuesday
• Runner ups will receive certificates of participation (looks good cube - certificates have a way of making the smallest desk seem a like a corner office)
• No double guesses, first come first serve

Ready, set, say cheese balls!